Cal's Keenan Allen regains his balance, then takes off to complete a 69-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Washington State. Allen had 11 catches for 166 yards.

Photo: Dean Hare, Associated Press

Cal's Keenan Allen regains his balance, then takes off to complete...

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Washington State coach Mike Leach, center, quarterback David Gilbertson (4), wide receiver Bennett Bontemps (25) and quarterback Cody Clements (13) watch a replay during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against California, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)

Photo: Dean Hare, Associated Press

Washington State coach Mike Leach, center, quarterback David...

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Washington State safety Deone Bucannon (20) trips up California tailback C.J. Anderson (9) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)

Photo: Dean Hare, Associated Press

Washington State safety Deone Bucannon (20) trips up California...

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Washington State punter Michael Bowlin mishandles the snap during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against California, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. Bowlin was able to recover the ball and get off the punt. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)

Photo: Dean Hare, Associated Press

Washington State punter Michael Bowlin mishandles the snap during...

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Washington State safety Deone Bucannon (20) tackles California tailback Isi Sofele during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)

Photo: Dean Hare, Associated Press

Washington State safety Deone Bucannon (20) tackles California...

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PULLMAN, WA - OCTOBER 13: Gabe Marks #84 of the Washington State Cougars carries the ball to the one yard line during the second quarter of the game against the California Golden Bears at Martin Stadium on October 13, 2012 in Pullman, Washington. A fumble was called but later reversed on the play. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)

Photo: William Mancebo, Getty Images

PULLMAN, WA - OCTOBER 13: Gabe Marks #84 of the Washington State...

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PULLMAN, WA - OCTOBER 13: Marquess Wilson #86 of the Washington State Cougars has a pass intercepted by Steve Williams #1 of the California Golden Bears resulting in a touchback during the first quarter of play at Martin Stadium on October 13, 2012 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)

Photo: William Mancebo, Getty Images

PULLMAN, WA - OCTOBER 13: Marquess Wilson #86 of the Washington...

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PULLMAN, WA - OCTOBER 13: Carl Winston #3 of the Washington State Cougars moves the ball during the second quarter of play against the California Golden Bears at Martin Stadium on October 13, 2012 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)

PULLMAN, Wash. -- With an overpowering running game, Cal put together back-to-back victories for the first time this season with a 31-17 win over pass-happy Washington State on Saturday night at Martin Stadium.

The Bears improved to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-12 heading into the first October Big Game in the history of the Cal-Stanford rivalry next Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Cal pounded the Cougars for 318 yards rushing, with C.J. Anderson gaining 112 and Zach Maynard 77. All told, four Cal players gained at least 50 yards rushing, and premier wide receiver Keenan Allen, with 11 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown, moved into second place on Cal's career list with 196 catches.

A sparse crowd of less than 28,000 dispersed in droves when Anderson scampered 29 yards for a touchdown that put the Bears up 31-10 with 10:27 to go in the game. Cal neared 300 yards rushing for the night on that drive, divided among Anderson, Isi Sofele, Brendan Bigelow and Maynard.

Vincenzo D'Amato came into the game for Cal late in the third quarter to try a career-long 52-yard field goal. The ball just cleared the crossbar to put the Bears up 24-10 with 2:02 left in the period.

Washington State scored its first touchdown of the game with 6:42 left in the third quarter on Jeff Tuel's 8-yard pass to Brett Bartolone, who eluded linebacker J.P. Hurrell to get into the end zone. That made it a 21-10 game in Cal's favor.

The Bears stretched out to a 21-3 lead on the first drive of the second half, another example of the efficiency of the offense on this Palouse night. Cal went 75 yards on nine plays, with Maynard tucking into the end zone on a designed run from 2 yards out.

A 25-yard run by Bigelow, a 15-yard reception by Allen and an 11-yard run by Anderson hastened Cal's march downfield.

The balanced Bears had 287 yards in total offense in the first half, with 157 coming on the ground. WSU had 20 yards rushing as part of its 196 yards. It was a solid defensive showing for Cal, playing the entire first half in a nickel defense to counteract the Cougars' spread passing offense.

After Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday threw his second interception in the first quarter, coach Mike Leach replaced him with Tuel, who had started the first two games of the season before an injury sidelined him.

Midway through the second quarter, Cal forged a 14-3 lead on a swift and efficient drive of 75 yards on nine plays. Receptions of 16 and 20 yards by Allen and an 11-yard run by Maynard put the Bears on the WSU 4-yard line.

From there, Anderson muscled into the end zone with 6:35 to go before halftime.

The Cougars pulled within 7-3 early in the second quarter after an arduous drive of 86 yards that consumed 6:02 and ended with a 20-yard field goal following six plays inside the Cal 10-yard line.

The Bears looked as if they were poised to take a two-touchdown lead later in the first quarter but Maynard's pass from the WSU 10-yard line was tipped by Allen and into the arms of cornerback Anthony Carpenter for the Cal quarterback's second interception of the game.

Allen showed why he'll be playing in the NFL next season when he caught a short pass over the middle from the Cal 31-yard line and turned it into a 69-yard touchdown romp after leaving three Cougars sprawled on the turf. The touchdown gave the Bears a 7-0 lead with 5:55 left in the first quarter.

Briefly: Sophomore Kameron Jackson, who had three interceptions against UCLA and was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, started at one cornerback position in place of the injured Marc Anthony (knee). ... Former Cal coach Keith Gilbertson (1992-95) was a spectator at the game. His son, David Gilbertson, is a junior reserve quarterback for the Cougars. The elder Gilbertson is now retired and living in Woodinville in the Seattle area.